Decorative cover for a shoe

ABSTRACT

A decorative cover ( 10 ) for a shoe ( 12 ), including a toe section ( 14 ) and a heel section ( 16 ) separated by a bridging section ( 18 ), wherein the cover ( 10 ) is at least partially resiliently expandable so that the toe section ( 14 ) and the heel section ( 16 ) resiliently bear against respective heel and toe sections of the shoe when the cover is fitted over the shoe, wherein the cover includes an upper boot section ( 32 ) shaped for engagement with a leg of a person wearing the shoe.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a decorative cover for a shoe. Thepresent invention also relates to a method of fitting a decorative coverto a shoe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A woman, for example, may purchase a new pair of shoes to match aparticular clothing ensemble. The shoes will typically be chosen tomatch a particular dress, skirt, jacket, or pair of pants.Notwithstanding that this process may result in a well coordinatedclothing ensemble, use of the new pair of shoes may be limited to theparticular D ensemble for which they were purchased. As such, the shoesmay be forced into early retirement when the woman tires of theensemble.

A lucky pair of shoes may have an extended life if the shoes can be usedwith multiple clothing ensembles. In such cases,, the life expectancy ofthe shoes may be. slightly extended. However, the woman will stilllikely have multiple pairs of shoes, one for each set of matchingclothing ensembles.

Purchasing different pairs of shoes to match different clothingensembles is a time consuming and expensive process.

A woman may wear a particular heel height to suit the occasion, e.g.work, medium size heel and when the occasion arises to add some glamourthe shoe maybe exchanged with a similar pair with higher heels.

It is generally desirable to overcome or ameliorate one or more of theabove mentioned difficulties, or at least provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided adecorative cover for a shoe, including a toe section and a heel sectionseparated by a bridging section, wherein the cover is at least partiallyresiliently expandable so that the toe section and the heel sectionresiliently bear against respective heel and toe sections of the shoewhen the cover is fitted over the shoe. The cover includes an upper bootsection shaped for engagement with a leg of a person wearing the shoe.

Preferably, the heel section includes an aperture shaped to receive aheel of the shoe.

Preferably, the toe section and the heel section at least partiallyconform to the shape of respective toe and heel sections of the shoewhen the cover is fitted to the shoe. Alternatively, for sling back oropen back shoes, the wearer may pull the heel section of the coverupwards, such that the cover sits above the heel exposing the wearer'sbare heel.

The cover preferably includes a sole section shaped to at leastpartially engage a sole of the shoe. The upper boot section preferablyat least partially resiliently expandable so as to resiliently bearagainst the leg of the person.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of fitting the above described cover to a shoe, including thesteps of:

(a) inserting the toe section of the shoe into a corresponding toesection of the cover;

(b) resiliently expanding the bridging section of the cover so that theheel section of the cover overlies the heel section of the shoe; and

(c) pulling the upper section of the cover up the leg of the person tothe desired height.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereafter described,by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a cover for a shoe;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the cover shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the cover shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a prior art shoe fitted to a foot of a person;

FIG. 5 is side view of the cover shown in FIG. 1 fitted to a shoe beingworn by a person; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the cover shown in FIG. 5 showing internalfeatures in broken lines.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The decorative cover 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is used to change the lookof a shoe, sandal or boot 12 to match a particular clothing ensemble.For example, the look of the shoe 12 shown in FIG. 4 can be changed byfitting the cover 10 to the shoe in the manner shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.In doing so, the life expectancy of a pair of shoes can, advantageously,be extended. The shoe will also be protected from fabric scuffs andspills whilst wearing the, cover. Covers can be laundered (dry cleanedor hand washed).

The cover 10 is hereafter described by way of reference to the heeledladies shoe 12 shown in FIG. 4. However, the cover 10 can be used witheither an open or a closed toe shoe 12. Further, the cover 10 can beused with either an open or a closed back shoe 12.

The cover 10 includes a toe section 14 and a heel section 16 separatedby a bridging section 18. The cover 10 is at least partially resilientlyexpandable so that the toe section 14 and the heel section 16resiliently bear against respective heel and toe sections 20, 22 of theshoe 12 when the cover is fitted over the shoe 12. The toe section 14and the heel section 16 at least partially conform to the shape ofrespective toe and heel sections 20, 22 of the shoe 12 when the cover 10is fitted. The cover 10, when fitted, generally conforms 30 to the shapeof the shoe 12.

The heel section 18 of the cover 10 includes an aperture 24 shaped toreceive a heel 26 of the shoe 12. The heel 26 of the shoe 12 extendsthrough the aperture 24 when the cover is fitted to the shoe 12 so thatthe heel engages a floor or ground surface (not shown). Consequently,the heel section 16 of the cover 10 is raised above the floor or groundsurface. The heel section may also include a heel insert 25 arranged tofrictionally engage the heel section 22 of the shoe 12 in manner shownin FIG. 6. The heel insert 25 inhibits unintentional movement betweenthe heel section 18 of the cover 10 and the heel section 22 of the shoe12. In an alternative embodiment not shown, for sling back or open backshoes, the wearer may pull the heel section 22 upwards, such that thecover .10 sits above the wearer's heel, exposing the wearers bare heel.An accessory, such as a clip, could be added to the centre front coversecuring the cover to expose the wearer's bare heel.

The cover also includes a sole section 28 shaped to at least partiallyengage a sole 30 of the shoe 12. The sole section 28 is adapted tofrictionally engage both the sole 30 of the shoe 12 and the floor orground surface. The sole section 28 is preferably made of rubber. Thesole section 28 preferably provides a non-slip interface between theshoe and the floor or ground surface. The sole section 28 is preferablyglued to the toe section 14 and the bridging section 18.

The cover 10 is preferably shaped to provide an alternative covering forany shoe or boot.

The cover 10 additionally includes an upper boot section 32 whichconverts a low cut dress shoe, sandal or boot 12 into a long boot. Theupper boot section 32 is generally tubular and shaped for engagementwith a leg 34 of a person wearing the shoe 12. The upper boot section 32at least partially resiliently expandable so 30 as to resiliently bearagainst the leg 34 of the person, making the cover multi-sized to suit,a broad range of calf sizes. The upper boot section 32 can be arrangedto extend different lengths along the leg 34 of the person. As such, theheight of the boot can be adjusted to suit the desired look. The cover10 preferably includes a zip (not shown) or lacing in a non stretchfabric such as leather or sheep skin extending along the upper bootsection 32 from the heel section 16. The upper boot section 32 ispreferably lined.

The cover 10 is fitted to the shoe 12 by performing the following steps:

(a) inserting the toe section 20 of the shoe 12 into a corresponding toesection 14 of the cover 10;

(b) resiliently expanding the bridging section 18 of the cover 10 sothat the heel section 16 of the cover 10 overlies heel section 22 of theshoe 12; and

(c) pulling the upper section 32 of the cover 10 up the leg 34 of theperson to the desired height.

The cover 10 is preferably made of an at least partially resilientlyexpandable material. Alternatively, the cover 10 is made of leather. Thecover 10 is preferably made of a water proof material, also protectingfrom spills and scuffs; in sheepskin, leather or vinyl and like fabric,a zip or eyelets will be required.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and shouldnot be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that theprior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in thisspecification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more ofthe individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings.All of these different combinations constitute various alternativeaspects of the invention.

LIST OF PARTS

-   10 Cover for a shoe-   12 Shoe-   14 Toe section of cover-   16 Heel section of cover-   18 Bridging section of cover-   20 Toe section of shoe-   22 Heel section of shoe-   24 Aperture for heel of the shoe-   26 Heel of shoe-   28 Sole section of cover-   30 Sole of shoe-   32 Upper section of cover-   34 Leg of a person

1. A decorative cover for a shoe, including a toe section and a heelsection separated by a bridging section, wherein the cover is at leastpartially resiliently expandable so that the toe section and the heelsection resiliently bear against respective heel and toe sections of theshoe when the cover is fitted over the shoe; wherein the cover includesan upper boot section shaped for engagement with a leg of a personwearing the shoe.
 2. The decorative cover claimed in claim 1, whereinthe upper boot section is at least partially resiliently expandable soas to resiliently bear against the leg of the person.
 3. The decorativecover claimed in claim 1, wherein the toe section and the heel sectionat least partially conform to the shape of respective toe and heelsections of the shoe when the cover is fitted to the shoe.
 4. Thedecorative cover claimed in claim 1, wherein the heel section includesan aperture shaped to receive a heel of the shoe.
 5. The decorativecover claimed in claim 1, including a sole section shaped to at leastpartially engage a sole of the shoe.
 6. The decorative cover claimed inclaim 5, wherein the sole section of the cover is adapted tofrictionally engage the sole of the shoe.
 7. The decorative coverclaimed in claim 1, wherein the upper boot section can be arranged toextend different lengths along the leg of the person.
 8. The decorativecover claimed in claim, including a zipper extending along the upperboot section from the heel section.
 9. The decorative cover claimed inclaim 1, wherein the upper boot section is lined.
 10. The decorativecover claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is adapted to fit a shoethat is either open or closed toe.
 11. The decorative cover claimed inclaim 1, wherein the cover is adapted to fit a shoe that is either openor closed back.
 12. A method of fitting a decorative cover to a shoe,the decorative cover being for a shoe, and including a toe section and aheel section separated by a bridging section, wherein the cover is atleast partially resiliently expandable so that the toe section and theheel section resiliently bear against respective heel and toe sectionsof the shoe when the cover is fitted over the shoe; wherein the coverincludes an upper boot section shaped for engagement with a leg of aperson wearing the shoe; and the method including the steps of: (a)inserting the toe section of the shoe into a corresponding toe sectionof the cover; (b) resiliently expanding the bridging section of thecover so that the heel section of the cover overlies the heel section ofthe shoe; and (c) pulling the upper section of the cover up the leg ofthe person to the desired height.